Medicaid Pilot Program in Florida

Letter to the Editor published in Miami Herald, December 23rd, 2011 Patients protected The Dec. 16 article State can expand Medicaid pilot program incorrectly stated that the federal government approved the expansion of the Medicaid pilot project. Actually, the extension of the five-county Medicaid pilot project was approved until 2014, but with significant improvements to the program. They include the denial of the medical-loss-ratio waiver requiring the participating private health plans to spend 85 percent of the funds on patient care and the denial of capping benefit levels for Medicaid beneficiaries, which prevents the termination of Medicaid services because recipients have already met their maximum. These requirements will protect patients from arbitrary insurance denials and will force private health insurance plans to manage the taxpayers’ dollars more efficiently and responsibly. We should continue to oppose any expansion of the pilot project unless the state of Florida can provide solid data that it improves access and enhances the quality of healthcare for all Medicaid enrollees. Bernd Wollschlaeger, MD,